Our roots in Niagara run deep
Strewn was founded in 1997 after a lengthy search by Joseph Will and his wife Jane Langdon for the perfect site for a new winery. The location they found, at the corner of Lakeshore Road and Four Mile Creek Road in Niagara-on-the-Lake, had once been home to the Niagara Canning Company.
In 1997, a vineyard was planted and the original buildings were extensively rebuilt to create the visitor centre at Strewn and the classrooms of the Wine Country Cooking School.
President, founder and original winemaker Joe Will was soon joined by industry veteran Newman Smith as Strewn Chairman. Newman’s senior management expertise and Joe’s winemaking skills proved to be a successful combination and the winery has flourished and grown over three decades
As Strewn looks forward to 2027 and celebrating 30 years, the focus remains on producing well-made wines that reflect vintage variation. In addition to the premium and reserve wines exclusively available at the winery’s online and on-site store, you can find a selection of Strewn’s most approachable and affordable wines in more than [number] of LCBO, grocery and convenience stores across Ontario.
Niagara Canning was founded by Peter Wall, a Mennonite farmer, in 1940 to provide local the local community with a means of processing their fruits and vegetables for use over the winter. Operating as a cooperative, the cannery employed more than 200 people during its heyday in the 1940s before closing in 1948. Over the next decades, the buildings were used primarily for warehousing and ultimately the property was listed for sale.
Meanwhile, Joe had completed his winemaking training at Roseworthy College in Australia, and worked a vintage at a British Columbia. winery before moving to the Niagara Region. After five years as founding winemaker for nearby Pillitteri Estates Winery, Joe made the move to found Strewn. Jane, a marketer and former food writer, began the Wine Country Cooking School, on site at Strewn the same year.
